The Inquirer and Mirror Reports the Wreck of the "Marshall"

A RECENT GIFT to the Association is the research material compiled by the author of Life Saving — Nantucket, and contains information on Nantucket Life Saving Stations, Lighthouses and Lightships and Shipwrecks, together with related material. Among the factual reports is the account of the wreck of the bark W. F. Marshall, as reported by The Inquirer and Mirror over the initial period of her coming ashore and continuing through her eventual breaking up during the following months.

The first Life Station on Nantucket was built in 1874, and still stands at Surfside, where it is now an American Youth Hostel. The Station was opened December 1, 1874, with Captain Joseph Winslow as the first Keeper. It was March 10, 1877, that the first emergency arose — the wreck of the big bark W. F. Marshall. The Nantucket newspaper reported the story as follows:

March 10, 1877

As Mr. Horace Cash of the Life-saving station was returning to the house from his boat yesterday morning, about five o'clock, he discovered through the mist, a large bark headed directly for the shore which she soon struck at the head of Mioxes Ponds, driving well up on the beach. A strong southeast wind was blowing at the time. Aid soon arrived and the vessel was boarded. It proved to be the bark W. F. Marshall of St. Johns, N.B .* Captain James H. Wright, with a crew of fourteen all told. The wife and child of the steward were aboard, but were immediately landed and cared for. The wind was blowing onshore yesterday which gave no opportunity for an attempt to get her off, but if the weather moderates today an effort will be made to rescue the vessel.

The captain says, "We left Hampton Roads Wednesday afternoon (March 7th) bound for St. John. The weather was fine until Thursday afternoon when a breeze sprung up gradually increasing to a moderate gale. Took an observation Thursday at noon and then steered east of north intending to pass twenty miles inside the South Shoal Lightship. The weather continued to thicken at night, and about 12 o'clock looked at my chart and figured we were some fifty miles south of Nantucket; afterwards

The Wreck of The Bark W. F. Marshall on The South Shore

went on deck and took in topgallant sails, when I went below and laid down, about two o'clock, leaving the second mate in charge of the deck. The vessel was under topsails and courses, and was making some eleven knots when we struck. The first intimation we received of being in shoal waters was on entering the breakers, when we almost immediately struck. We could make no land, and until hailed by the patrolman considered we were upon some shoal inside the lightship."

The bark is a new vessel, of 940 tons burthen, and has made but one voyage — to Ireland from which she had just returned in ballast, having been ordered to Hampton Roads for orders. She is owned by parties in St. John and by the captain and is partially insured. A large number of people went from town yesterday to see the wreck. The crew are ashore and the vessel is under the charge of two of her officers and a boat's crew of wreckers. The Humane Society's apparatus and crew were promptly on hand, being carried out from town, but it was not necessary to use them.

March 17, 1877

The vessel lies in about the same position as when she stranded last week. The captain has a force of men employed in stripping his craft. The boats, part of the rigging, cables, hawsers, sails, and some of the yards have already been brought to town and stored in the warehouse of Captain Matthew Crosby on Commercial Wharf. Captain Smith the agent of one of the Bangor offices arrived in town yesterday. We understand that the office has about ten thousand dollars insured on the bark. It is stated that an attempt will probably be made to haul her off.

The crew of the IV. F. Marshall left here on Saturday last. They were provided with a good meal at Woods Hole through the kindness of Captain Charles Grant of this place.

(On March 21st the Italian bark Papa Luigi C. came ashore about one half mile east of the W. F. Marshall and is referred to in subsequent items)

March 31, 1877

The bark W. F. Marshall was sold at auction on the beach Wednesday afternoon at two o'clock by Mr. Peter Folger for $185. Mr. James Powers of Boston was the purchaser. The spars sold for $25. The sails, rigging, etc., which had been brought to town were also sold during the afternoon bringing but a small amount.

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Mr. Powers, who has purchased the wrecked bark W. F. Marshall, will send down a crew with the necessary applicants, to attempt getting the ship off immediately. Mr. J. C. Macy has engaged a number of men here to assist in the undertaking.

(Less than two weeks after the Marshall was wrecked another bark was lost at Surfside, but closer to the Station. It was the Papa Luigi C., from Italy, bound for Boston; her crew was saved but the vessel became a total loss.)

April 21, 1877

The Italian bark Papa Luigi C. was sold at auction in Boston on the 13th instant, James Power & Co., of that city being the purchaser. We do not learn the price paid.

Mr. C. Chase, of the Norfolk Wrecking Co., has been here and made surveys of the two wrecks now lying at the south shore, having been engaged by Messrs. Power & Co. to get them off if possible. He seemed to be satisfied that the job can be done and has sent for a wrecking schooner and materials, which are expected to arrive here soon.

April 28, 1877

The wrecked bark Papa Luigi C. which was sold at auction in Boston recently brought with her anchors and chains, $530. The materials sold for $1400.

May 5, 1877

Captain E. Burden of the Norfolk Wrecking Co., arrived in town with two or three of his men on Thursday for the purpose of hauling off the two wrecks now lying on the south shore. They will commence operations immediately on arrival of the schooner which is to bring their apparatus, which they are expecting to arrive every minute. They will operate on both vessels at once.

(Item: Two hundred vessels took advantage of the fair weather and stiff westerly breeze of Thursday to make their way up the Sound)

THE WRECK OF THE "MARSHALL"

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May 12, 1877

The wreckers have got their houses erected on the beach and com menced business on Thursday last, getting the fore yard of the W. F. Marshall ashore and hoisting the anchor which was in her hold on deck.

May 19, 1877

Mr. Power has sold to Messrs. Gibson and Bartlett of Boston the two wrecks at the south side of the island, at a large advance upon the price paid. Mr. Bartlett, who has been in town, went away Thursday morning to procure the necessary implements for wrecking the vessels, which will still be under the charge of Captain Burden. As soon as their lighter is at liberty, she will be sent here with divers. They appear to feel confident of success in floating the W. F. Marshall.

May 26, 1877

A portion of the wrecking apparatus — including the steam engine — to be used on the W. F. Marshall is expected by the Boston packet.

June 9, 1877

The schooner Forest City arrived here last Saturday with apparatus for the wreckers' use. She proceeded around to the south side of the island, Captain Thomas Brown acting as pilot, where most of the stuff was landed. Owing to the rough weather some of the heavy articles could not be taken ashore, and she came around to the wharf, Thursday, to put them out.

June 16, 1877

Mr. Louis Forbes, sub-marine diver, with William Gillen his assistant arrived here on Tuesday, bringing his armor. On Thursday he went over on the outside of the W. F. Marshall making an inspection of the hull from the main to the fore chains. He found three leaks occasioned by butts starting, one of them large enough to enable him to put his hand through it. Owing to a heavy swell he was unable to remain down long enough to do any work. Yesterday morning he was making preparations to dive again, when he would put patches upon the leaks. As the weather was good he probably accomplished the work.

During the day Thursday a descent was made from the Italian bark.

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The diver reports her perfectly sound as far as he inspected her. He brought up some brimstone (cargo), a cake of which was sent to Boston yesterday morning as a sample.

The wreckers express themselves confident of floating the W. F. Marshall.

Just before we go to press we learn that the diver went down alongside bark W. F. Marshall yesterday forenoon and succeeded in doing considerable caulking.

June 23, 1877

Nothing of importance has yet been done toward getting off the W. F. Marshall, the bad weather having delayed operations. Another donkey engine has been taken on board to assist in pumping her out. As soon as the ballast can be removed from the hold, an attempt will be made to haul her off, when, if it is successfully accomplished, the vessel will be taken to Boston.

The diver who has been at work on her recently was called off on a special job, but it is stated, will return today.

The vessel has moved offshore some eight feet, and everything looks favorable for floating her.

The wrecking schooner Forest City came very near stranding on the south shore last Tuesday during the heavy southwest blow. The vessel came almost upon the shore, her anchors being insufficient to hold her. A hawser was run out to the heavy anchor to be used on the W. F. Marshall and the schooner hove off.

June 30, 1877

The longshoremen at work on the wreck, on Thursday, struck for an advance on the price paid them, and carried their point without trouble. They now receive 30 cents per hour.

The wreckers did the biggest day's work that they have accomplished since the W. F. Marshall came ashore, getting out about one hundred tons of ballast. They Avent to work again yesterday noon and if the weather holds good will soon clear the hold. A large leak in the after part of the vessel was discovered and stopped.

July 7, 1877

Since our last issue the idea of hauling off the W. F. Marshall has been abandoned. The heavy winds and sea of Sunday and Monday last caused the vessel to heel still more, and she now lies with her masts touching the water. The two donkey engines and the steam pumps have been brought to town and put aboard the schooner Forest City for shipment to Boston. Both wrecks will be stripped of everything worth saving. The report circulated that they would be burned is unfounded as we are informed by the gentleman in charge. The amount expended on the vessel thus far does not fall much short of $6,000, of which amount but a small portion can possibly be recovered. (Item: A fleet of two hundred vessels was in the sound last Tuesday).

A schooner arrived here from Ellsworth, Me., yesterday, having on board lumber for Mr. J. B. Macy. She will take on board the cables saved from the W. F. Marshall, on her return.

July 14, 1877

The British schooner Ripple, Morehouse, which arrived here on the 6th instant, from Bear River, N.S. with a cargo of lumber and palings for Mr. J. B. Macy .... (follows an account of her difficulties with customs) has unloaded. She is now taking on board the chains, etc., of bark W. F. Marshall which will be conveyed to St. John, N.B.

July 28, 1877

The wreckers on the Italian bark found a large chain cable aboard, Wednesday, which was secured. Both this vessel and the English bark have now been pretty thoroughly stripped. The spars of the former craft still remain but will be taken off soon.

September 29, 1877

The wrecked bark W. F. Marshall was burned last Sunday the torch being applied shortly after noon. Large numbers of people drove down to witness the conflagration and were well repaid for so doing.

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Further items about the bark Papa Luigi C.

September 22, 1877

The schooner Republic arrived here from Boston, Thursday. She came in for a pilot to carry her around the island to the Italian bark, from which it is proposed to remove the brimstone, a couple of divers having been brought along for that purpose.

September 29, 1877

The wrecking schooner Republic is anchored near the Italian bark, and the wreckers will commence operation immediately.

October 13, 1877

The schooner Republic came in from the Italian bark, Monday. She had taken out but a small lot of the brimstone.

During the severe storm of October 12-13, 1878, the vessel broke up and her bottom eventually landed on Tuckernuck.